Set on Te Rātā Blvd in Karaka, Franklin, this Trailpro-built pump track serves as the local playground and holds a perfect 5.0 Google rating.
The trick to a pump track is in the name: speed comes from pumping — pressing down through the rollers and unweighting over the crests — rather than pedalling, which teaches riders timing and flow. Beginners do well to roll a few gentle laps first and keep an eye out for faster riders sweeping through the berms. The format works just as well for balance bikes, scooters and skateboards as it does for pedal bikes, so these tracks suit mixed-age families, and damp surfaces make for slow, slippery laps, meaning dry days ride best.
For Karaka households, having a highly rated track a short ride from home makes an easy after-school or weekend energy-burner.